Anyone else discount the White Stripes at the first listen since they sounded like a Led Zep ripoff? I'm giving them, and Jack White a chance these days, and I have to admit the twerp has talent. I wonder if they made the documentary "It Might Get Loud," just to get him and Jimmy Page in the same room together with plugged in guitars.

Susan, Susan, tell me it isn't true!Australia is flying into outer space on outdated fuel?But seriously, listening to these and other neo-psychedelic bands, why is it that they seem to be a mixture of "Magical Mistery Tour"-Beatles, "Astronomy Domine"-Pink Floyd (Not Piper-Pink Floyd, none of the bands have Sid's sign), Hawkwind and, surprisingly, just a little bit of The Doors (I mean, The Doors a psychedelic band?): Dark, muddy with a preference for pedestrian tempo's?Never the clear, sharp, brittle shine of "Revolver"-Beatles, "Pillow"/"Crown"-Airplane or "Doll's House"-Family, that I associate with my admittedly few psychedelic experiences.Not one of them sounds even a bit like Jefferson Airplane.

RR, when I lived in Perth "psychedelic" was just a style. No chemical inspiration or deep insight needed, just a few old records to copy from. I'm not sure if it's any different now. I guess it's too dry in Perth for magic mushrooms!

Songs by Rosemary Clooney.A long time ago somewhere in the mid-fifties a sister of my father emigrated to Australia for the first time (believe it or not, she was going to do it two times more). Awaiting their depature by boat her daugthers stayed with my parents. My parents never listened to music. But Petra and Maya did. They introduced me to music. I have a vague memory of hearing Rosemary Clooney singing on the radio (and whenever I hear her songs the fifties are back). I was intrigued by this strange phenomenon "music". I asked all my cousins older than me "What is this? Let me hear some more". But somehow I wasn't impressed by the likes of Ricky Nelson. Then in 1963 the Beatles and the Stones came along, I was twelve years old.And I, son of a totally a-musical family, became a drummer.